It sure felt like I paid for it yesterday, lashed by winds and driving snow on a hike more evocative of January than March. Cold, with snowfall rates of up to three inches per hour. Skiers reaped face shots of radioactive powder.

Avid snow statistician (and “Future Primitive” DJ) Eric Balog reported Monday that of the 115 days Jackson Hole Mountain Resort had been open this season, it recorded new snow on 87 of them. Updating that stat with the 28 inches that fell since then, including yesterday’s whopping 22 inches, the resort has reported snow 89 of 117 days, or 76 percent.

No wonder the seasonal disorder affected among us are fleeing to the desert.

Sam Petri shows off a look he calls "White Squall." Click to enlarge.

The snowpack in Rendezvous Bowl is comparable to the massive winter of 1997. Today’s depth of 147 inches is a new record for this date, although it’s worth noting that in the same week in March 1997, the snow depth hit 159 inches before settling considerably in sun and warm temperatures.

Total snowfall this season is 479 inches in Rendezvous Bowl. Grand Targhee also is pushing the 500-inch mark. Should be ample water in the Snake River whenever spring does happen to arrive.

The winter of 1996-’97 became known as “Ninety Sick-Ninety Heaven,” and 2007-’08, when 605 inches of snowfall were recorded at the Raymer Plot, was called “Two Thousand Great.” What should 2011 be known as?

The last time the resort stayed open an extra week — I believe it was 1997 — it lost a lot of money, I heard.

Targhee already decided to stay open an extra week.

joey March 25, 2011
6:30 am

Yeah but it was a fun week the last time the vill extended its season. No one was there, Corbet’s cooler had an easy like Sunday morning entry and, again, no one was there. The ski area was a ghost town.

Chip March 25, 2011
8:01 am

Staying open an extra week this season might not be immediately profitable but worth it to boost bookings and hype for next season. Wall to wall opening, 500+ inches and an extended season, is a marketing campaign stronger than Andre the giant !